Leah Remini was a guest on Chelsea Lately last night. They talk and joke about her lack of dance skills on “Dancing With the Stars” and why the cards are stacked against her compared to the other celebs. Leah defends herself saying atleast she had good posture last week and she’s having fun. More below.

I'm a fashion and music fan....and I have always loved dancing too of any kind. Dancing With The Stars seems to have this way of bringing all of those things together. One of my favorite dancing quotes at the moment: "No matter what, nobody can take away the dance you've already had...." ~Gleb Savchenko . For fun music and dance mixes, visit WilUnleashed Soundcloud.

24 responses to "Leah Remini Chats With Chelsea Handler About The Cards Stacked Against Her On DWTS Season 17"

I’m pretty sure this was supposed to be funny – but I guess it’s not my preference in humor, because I didn’t enjoy it at all…and after watching it, I like Leah less. Really starting to hope in earnest (vs by default) that she’s the one going home on Monday.

Hate when the pros overplay that card about how the show is all about NON dancers learning to dance, WHEN they have a celeb who can’t dance. I know it’s the pros job to try to position their celeb to be voted for and to help shape the story, but do they not realize that over playing it isn’t a good thing?

Because IMO, the show is about entertainment and a variety of people and a variety of stories. And plenty of people without dance training do very well *because* they are so endearing or compelling for some reason. Preaching to the choir here, sorry. But yeah, not my kind of humor either and if someone has to go I won’t cry if it’s Leah/Tony.

Word, jess – I have to laugh when I hear viewers up in arms about how the show “is supposed to be about celebs who can’t dance, learning to dance!” I have NEVER heard that stated officially by the show itself, or the network – it’s something that has been concocted by the fans. The show is, above all else, and entertainment show – and I could give a rat’s ass if someone’s got dance experience or not, as long as I am entertained by them.

I just get a really, really odd vibe from Leah, and I’m not sure I like it. I’m kinda hoping she’s gone sooner rather than later, which is unfortunate because I do think she has potential – but she just doesn’t seem to want to be here, so…

I agree..don’t care if someone can dance, as long as I’m entertained. Guess I’m in the minority….again. I thought this was kinda funny. To me Leah’s accent makes her sound whinier than she is. I thought she was poking fun at herself. That said, she isn’t my favorite, and I’ll be highly pi$$ed if she stays and Bill Engvald goes. I love him. I’m not as worried about my other favorite , Jack. I think he’ll be around a while.

I do hope she is the one going home on Monday. I guess she has never watched dwts before. There has always been different levels of dance experience on the show. Tony needs to tell her how the show works.

I was hoping I’d like Leah because I applaud her for leaving the Scientology cult. She was briefly engaging on Ellen. However, since then I haven’t found her very likable. She gives off this “woe is me” air and acts like she has such a heavy burden to bear (maybe it’s the chip on her shoulder). Girlfriend ought to look at Jack and Valerie and learn something.

As for Tony, ever since the producers gave him the All-Stars MBT, I feel Tony’s demeanor has changed (for the worse).

Please let Leah and Tony be the ones who get the boot on Monday instead of Bill E and Emma!

After 17 seasons celebs who sign up for this show have no excuse for not knowing how it works.
It’s hard physical work and emotionally draining. Sometimes the judges say stupid things to you. Most of the time some of your competitors have previous dance experience.
These are not closely guarded secrets. You signed on the dotted line knowing these things.

Plus, she’s getting a nice paycheck and learning how to ballroom dance for free! Not to mention all the extra publicity she’s getting from doing the show.

It just makes me want to smack her upside the head with her own overly inflated, self pitying, whining ego.

I think Leah is hilarious. As auntie bellum said (#7), I think she says all that stuff to poke fun at herself. And I completely disagree that Leah is not enjoying herself…to me, she looks very happy to be there, but maybe feels a little bit insecure being part of a cast that is heavy with performing experience.

How I feel about her is probably colored by how I feel about her pro. I agree that she was likely poking fun at herself as much as whining and that it’s also part of her schtick. And maybe it’s just the 2 of these together in this interview, sort of feeding off each other with that schtick. But it’s still not my sense of humor. I still think it’s her pro who set that agenda with her, poor you, you’re a non dancer among a cast of dancers.

She’s probably scared to death of looking foolish. And that’s what will hold her back. That’s where Snicole has it made, she doesn’t have a filter like that.

I too would have much rather seen her with Henry. He spends time studying who ever he choreographs for to make sure he will showcase that person. I remember him talking about staying up late watching clips of Anna dancing in order to choreograph a routine with her. Maybe he would have been able to showcase her humor and her vulnerability in a way that is very appealing.

auntie bellum, I always enjoy your comments because I like reading your often dissenting views on things, and I appreciate how you present them. I like it a lot when there are lively conversations and at the same time people are treating each other with respect.

Have nothing in particular against Leah – although I agree, to me there is something slightly off about her, but perhaps it is nerves given she’s been wrapped up in Scientology for years. However, she is the one I’d miss least from the line up. Personally wouldn’t mind over much if Bill Nye went (not American so not a clue who he is!) but there seems no chance of that. Really hope that Bill E can defeat the odds – he seems to really like the show and I think he was slightly underscored on Monday compared to some. If it is humour, she needs to try and think how it comes across to general public, many of whom would give their eye teeth to have a chance to learn to dance – even with Tony!

Keyshawn has said he wanted to back out during the first week of training and honestly he did impress me at all and not sure he even cares. I’d rather see him leave than Leah. Perhaps having week 1 under her belt, nerves will rest a bit for week 2. We shall see.

If you look at the OK interview and what Sharna wrote (see one of Vogue’s posts from this morning), I think Keyshawn is really committed now. I think one of Keyshawn’s big problems (in terms of sticking around) is that he’s not comfortable letting his personality come out (at least that’s how it seems to me) – but I’m willing to give him a chance. Leah, though, is irking me a little – plus, I’d *much* rather have Sharna around vs Tony – which means, I’d rather Leah left first. But honestly, as long as it isn’t Bill Engvall (of those that are likely to leave first), I’ll be okay.

@jess…thanks so much for your kind comments. I, too, appreciate reading what everyone else is thinking about this season of DWTS. And there are some lively discussions for sure, but, just as you say, tempered with respect. Looking forward to Monday nite, and wondering who we’ll say good bye to. Just hope it’s not Bill E.

Sandy, I think the stars lined up perfectly for Sasha as soon as Nicole signed on the dotted line. While I would have preferred Henry over Sasha, I do think Sasha is a better fit for Nicole (in both height and personality). My guess is his lack of height will limit the number of times he’ll get a competing pro opportunity. So I don’t begrudge him this chance.

As for why Henry didn’t get a competing pro spot, I think it’s because he’s average height for a male dancer and they already had enough pros of similar physical type. Isn’t he about the same height as Derek, Tristan, and Val? Until one of them leaves, I think he might have a hard time getting into the lineup.

I wonder re Henry, I wish we could ask him straight up so we’d know, didn’t he get a big part in Baz’s musical that will open next spring in Australia? And it seems, when tptp start a new pro there is a hope that they will grow a fan base and stick around. So maybe they felt there was no reason to cast him this fall? I’m not yet a big Sasha fan, don’t dislike him, just don’t feel really anything yet. I do think he did a great job with a routine that showcased his partner and to me it didn’t seem he overdanced her, which is kind of what I expected.

Looks like quite a few of us here want Bill E and Emma to stick around for a while.